Joe Biden or Donald Trump, who gets credit for the Gaza ceasefire deal?

Fifteen months after a war broke out between Israel and Hamas, a ceasefire has finally been established in Gaza, which includes the release of hostages held in the region.

This ceasefire and hostage release agreement is an important political and personal achievement for US President Joe Biden as he nears the end of his presidency.

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However, as Biden discussed the efforts made by his administration to secure the deal, US President-elect Donald Trump rushed to claim that he was the key figure behind the breakthrough.

Both leaders are looking for credit over the Gaza ceasefire, following the White House’s decision to involve Trump’s Middle East envoy in negotiations that took several months.

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Biden vs Trump over credit for reaching the deal

As he stepped up to the podium in the Cross Hall of the White House to discuss the agreement, Biden opened by saying, “It’s a very good afternoon.”

Standing beside US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden discussed the efforts undertaken by his administration to reach this milestone.

“The elements of this deal were what I laid out in detail this past May, which was embraced by countries around the world and endorsed overwhelmingly by the UN Security Council,” he stated.

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Reflecting on his five-decade-long political career, Biden described the negotiations, in which he was personally engaged for over a year, as the “toughest” he had ever encountered.

Meanwhile, Trump was quick to claim credit for the breakthrough, asserting that he had been the driving force behind the agreement.

“This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signalled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies,” Trump posted on social media.

“I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones.”

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Biden or Trump, who cracked the ceasefire deal?

The rivalry intensifies as both Biden and Trump seek to claim the ceasefire deal as a hallmark of their respective legacies in the Middle East.

Biden’s administration spent months working on the peace talks, which seemed to inch closer to success only to falter repeatedly. Trump, for his part, had warned of “hell to pay” if a deal was not reached by his inauguration - just four days away.

In the final stretch, Brett McGurk, Biden’s pointman, was joined by Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, in a joint effort to secure the deal, according to US officials.

In Doha, Israeli and Hamas delegations negotiated on separate floors, with moderators from Qatar and Egypt facilitating discussions. A senior Biden administration official, speaking anonymously to AP, described the cooperation between McGurk and Witkoff as crucial in reaching the deal.

“Four days ago, Steve Witkoff came out to join Brett in his final push, which I think is, historically, almost unprecedented. And it was a highly constructive, very fruitful partnership,” the official told AFP.

Trump hailed the deal as an “epic” achievement made possible by the pressure of his election victory, while Biden dismissed such claims, responding, “Is that a joke?” when asked who deserved credit.

REPORTER: Do you, or Trump, deserve credit for the Gaza ceasefire deal?

JOE BIDEN: Is that a joke?pic.twitter.com/o52wPmJnBz

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 15, 2025

Eventually, both leaders can claim victory from the deal. For Biden, it represents a massive diplomatic success as his term concludes with a low approval rating. For Trump, it validates his “all hell would break out” promise in the Middle East before his second inauguration.

The truth behind who is responsible for the agreement is multifaceted. Biden administration officials point to momentum building before the election, particularly following the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The final deal’s contours closely align with Biden’s May proposal, but his administration was unable to complete it at the time.

Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, told AP that Biden deserves recognition for constantly pushing the talks despite setbacks. However, Trump’s pressure on Hamas and his involvement through Witkoff in pushing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu also deserves credit, he added.

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What we know about the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to halt the fighting in Gaza beginning Sunday, with plans to exchange dozens of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinians detained by Israel.

The detailed agreement outlines a six-week initial ceasefire, during which Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from the Gaza Strip, where tens of thousands of lives have been lost.

Despite the announcement, Israeli airstrikes continued on Wednesday night in Gaza. Local health officials have reported over 46,000 deaths during the conflict until now. Strikes in Gaza City and northern areas resulted in at least 32 additional deaths, according to medics.

A Palestinian official involved in the negotiations told Reuters that mediators were urging both sides to cease hostilities before the truce officially begins on Sunday.

Negotiators from the US, Israel, Qatar, and Egypt, along with Hamas officials, worked late into the night in Doha, with discussions continuing until 3 am as they attempted to finalise the deal.

Hamas made several last-minute demands during the talks, but CNN reported that American and Israeli negotiators stood firm, eventually securing an agreement.

In Gaza, news of the ceasefire brought celebrations. Palestinians, who have suffered severe shortages of essentials like food, water, shelter, and fuel, took to the streets to celebrate. In Khan Younis, crowds filled the roads, cheering, honking car horns, waving Palestinian flags, and dancing.

As the deal took shape, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made calls to his American counterparts. His first call was to President-elect Trump to thank him and arrange a meeting in Washington. He then contacted President Biden to thank him as well, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office.

With inputs from agencies